Severn Suzuki Speech Summary

Introduction

Urgency of Action:
- Losing the future is more significant than losing an election or stock market points.
- Need to speak for future generations and the voiceless (starving children, dying animals).
Environmental Concerns:
- Fear of the ozone layer and pollution.
- Personal anecdote about fishing in Vancouver and the discovery of cancerous fish.
- Extinction of species and loss of natural beauty (e.g., jungles, rainforests).
Collective Responsibility:
- Children and adults are part of a global family and must act together.
- A call to stop breaking the environment if solutions are unknown.

Contradictions in Behavior:
- Adults teach children to share and care, yet act in ways that contradict these teachings.
- Questioning if children’s welfare is truly a priority for adults.
Wealth Disparity:
- Observation of wastefulness in wealthy countries.
- Quote from a street child about wishing to share wealth with others.
Military vs. Environmental Spending:
- The need to redirect funds from war towards environmental solutions and poverty alleviation.

20 Years Later:
- Many environmental challenges remain unaddressed.
- The need for citizens to engage in grassroots activism, as leaders have not effectively led societal change.
State of the Planet:
- Scientists state that human activities are pushing the planet’s biosphere to a tipping point.
- Acknowledgment that current economic growth is prioritized over environmental sustainability.

Intergenerational Justice:
- Importance of addressing the environmental crimes against future generations.
- Personal commitment to ensuring a better world for future children.
Optimism and Collective Action:
- Belief in the potential to change for the better with collective efforts.
- The power of intergenerational love and responsibility.

Encouragement to view the future with optimism and a commitment to enact meaningful change.
Final thoughts on the importance of youth voices in shaping a sustainable future.